When the packet says, ‘Excessive consumption may have a laxative effect’ it really does mean it …

So what was the culprit? Well, in this case it was sugar-free sweets, and it’s all down to the sweetener, namely the polyol, sorbitol.

‘Excessive consumption’ is considered to be 20 or more grams a day. At this level it can cause diarrhoea in some people. And a level of just 5 to 20 grams of sorbitol is enough to cause bloating and cramps.

My day of popping tasty Werther’s Original sugar-free sweets definitely caused cramps, swiftly followed by trips to the loo! (But looking back, I’m sure I only ate 3 or 4 sweets, which I wouldn’t consider to be ‘excessive consumption’!)

Here’s the science bit …

Polyols break down into a form of sugar alcohol that cannot be completely absorbed. Instead, it holds on to water in the bowel, which causes diarrhoea.

When these indigestible substances reach the colon, they increase the fermenting action of the bacteria naturally present in the gut. This results in the creation of gas and bloating.

Well now I know! And the lesson is to read the packet *before* you munch, munch, munch!